Gear-shift-lever lock mechanism.



G C. JENSEN GEAR SHIFT LEVER LOCK MECHANISM.

APPLlCAIlON FILED FEB. 19. 19m.

1,262,349. Patented Apr. 9,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- Qua, 6

A TTOR NE YS.

[NI EN TOR.

G. C. JENSEN.

GEAR SHIFT LEVER LOCK MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. 1918.

1,262,349. Patented Apr. 9,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS.- I? INVENTOR.

Kai-QM k BY 6 GEORGE C. JENSEN, F OAKLAND. CALIFORNIA.

GEAB-SHIFT-ZLEVER LOCK MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed February IB, 1918. Serial No. 218,084.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Grouse C. JENSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gear- Shift-Lever Lock Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The resent Invention relates to a lock for shi devices particularly levers of the type wherein the lever member is fulcrumed for universal mm ement within a supporting member-and wherein the lever or sup port is provided with one or more pins cooperating with the other member to control the swinging movement of the lever, the lock capable of positioning to overlie the pins in contact therewith precluding the movement of the pin in its slot, thereby locking the lever from operative movement.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention reference should be had to the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the preferred embodiment of my invention, taken on line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the upper portion of the lever in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4:, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is avertical sectional view of a. modified form of construction.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the modified form of construction illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7*7.Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the several views of the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1 indicates a tubular suporting member, at the upper end of which is provided a spherical seat 2 for receiving the spherical portion 3 of a lever 4 depending thereinto, said support providing a uni versal fulcrum for the lever.

The lever is provided with the laterally extended oppositely disposed pins 5 which extend into vertical cutouts or slots 6 in the wall of said spherical seat 2, said pins permitting movement of the lever in planes at right angles to each other, but precluding axial rotation of the same. The upper surface of each pin 5 is flattened or faced as at 7 and said flattened portions or faces lie flush with the upper surface of the supporting member 1.

Positioned over the upper portion of the lever and moved downwardly thereon to rest at its lower edge .on the upper surface of the supporting member 1 is a retaining ring or collar 8 to the lower end of which is secured in any suitable manner, as by threading, a retaining ring member 9 between which and the laterally extending oppositely disposed cars 10 on the upper surface of said member 8 is retained the flanged portion 11 of an annular retaining member 12,

which is detachably secured in position to the upper surface of the supporting member 1 by headed screws or other attaching members 13. An annular flange 14 is provided ,on the member 12 and the same extends downwardly for a short distance around the upper end of the supporting member 1.

An operating handle 15 extends from one of the ears 10 and the same permits of the movement axially of the lever of the ring 9 and member 8, and on the positioning of said member 8, as in Fig. 2 of the drawings, said ears 1O overlie the heads of the screws 13 and prevent the detachment of said member 12 from the upper end of the supporting member 1 by the removal of the screws.

The retaining ring member 9 is formed on its periphery with the oppositely disposed lugs 15, which are adapted when the member 8 is in the position as in 2 of the drawings, to overlie the pins 5 and contact with the upper surfaces 7 thereof, thus preventing movement of the lever within its socket and maintaining the same vertically disposed therein. On the movement of the. member 8 to uncover theupper ends of the screw members 13, said lugs 15 are removed from over the pins 5, and the recesses 16 in the undersurface of said ring 9 are positioned over said pins, thereby admitting of universal swinging movement of the lever within its socket. A coiled spring 17 normally maintains the member 8 in unlocked position, said spring being secured at one end to a pin 18 carried by the member 12, and its opposite end to a lug 19 carried by the ring 9, said last mentioned lug 19 contacting with one of the screws 13 to limit the movement of the member 9 to locking position. A locking lug 20 is also carried by the periphery of the ring 9 and when the same is in contact with one of the screws 13, as in Fig, 4 of the drawings, said lug is engaged by a spring-pressed locking bolt 21 longitudinally movable within a horizontal bore 22 formed within a boss 23 at one side of the member 12. The locking bolt is adapted to be moved to unlocked or retracted position against the tension of the spring 24 by the operation of the eccentrically disposed finger 25 carried by the lower end of a rotatable locking barrel 26 preferably of the usual key controlled type, said finger extending into an elongated recess 27 in the upper portion of the locking bolt, 21.

It will be apparent that when it is desired to lock the lever from movement, the operator engages the handle 15 and moves the same axially of the lever in a clockwise direction against the tension of the spring 17, and when the lugs 15 overlie the upper fiat faces 7 of the pins 5, the in 19 contact ing with the shank of one of t 1e screws 13 will arrest the movement of said member 8, at which time the locking bolt 21 will automa-ticall engage the lug 20. This operation positions the ears 10 over the heads of the screws 13 and prevents detachment of the member 11 from the supporting memher 1.

When it is desired to unlock the lever to permit movement thereof, the operation of the barrel 26 will retract the locking bolt 21 and release the same from the lo 20, at which time the spring 17 will axial y rotate the ring 9 and member 8 to position the recesses 16 to overlie the pins 5, at which time the lever is capable of universal swinging movement, and if desirable access may be had to the heads of the screws 13 to admit of the detachment of the member 12 from the supporting member 1.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the supporting member 1 is formed with an upward y disposed annular threaded flange 28 to which is secured, by threading, the ring or collar 29, which surrounds the lever and bears at its lower end on the spherical portions 3 of said lever, maintaining the same sea ted in the socket 2. The supporting menr be! 1 is further provided with a boss 30, in which is mounted a locking-plunger 31 Outwardly pressed by a spring 32, the plunger extending beyond the threaded flange 28 and engaging in a recess 233 in said ring or collar 25). The inner sin-turn of the ring or collar :29 is adnptrd when in ils lowermost position to lie substantially llnsh with the upper fiat fares T of lllt' pIns 5 from thr spbrrirul portion 21 of the lever, and said uiuh-rsnrl'u r is l'nrllu-r provided with recesses Zil tor overlying said pins 5 when the ring or nunibrr 111 is axially rotated to unliv-lii-d position and permit of universal movement ol' the lrwr within its sorket. The engagrnn-nt of llio ltlt'lilllg bolt 31 in the recess Zili is at ll'll time as the member 29 is axially room-d to position the solid portion of the uinlrrsnrl'arr thereof to overlie the upper lat l'arrs T ol' the pins 5. at which time the llllllli'tillllll; ol' the ring" 29 from the support 1 is plWH'HlWl. and the movement of the lever within its so ket is also precluded.

As in the other i'ornl ol' e-ondrwiiou, the bolt 31 is retracted b} the min? rotation of tho locking barrel ill inn lug llnusual ccrrntrir portion 125 depending into an el ngated recess 27 in hilltl bolt.

It will be observed in thr prrl'errvd our bodiment, of my invention. that on the retrartiug of the lot-king boll 2! the ring fl and member 8 are :uiloinatii-zdlv rotated by the action of the spring 17 to unlock the lever to permit of uniii-rsal inovrinrnt thereof, while in the modified form of ('l)llFlIIl('- tion, both the Inching operation and tho nnlocking operation are manually performed,

Having thus dcsrrihrd my invention, what i claim as new and drsirr to protect by Let ters Patent is:

1. in combination with a tubular sup porting member, a lever member reinovably supported thereby and l'nlrrnnied then-in for universal swinging internment, one of said members provided with a slot, the other of said members provided a ll h a pin projecting within said slot and reliable of movement therein on the operation ol the lever, said cooperating pin and slot preventing axial rotation of the liner within the support, and lock controlled uirun rurried b said slotted membrr and rupsbliof posttioning to preclude movement oi said pin within said slot "and lUilt said lrvi-r from movement on its fulcrum.

2. In combination with :1 tubular supporting member, a lever member ri-niovably supported thereby and lulcrunn-d therein for universal swinging movrmrni. one of said members provided with a slot. the other of said members provided with a pin projecting within said slot and capable of movement thrrcin on the operation of the lever, said eoi'lprrating pin and slot prevent .ing axial rotation of the lever within the support, and lock controlled means carried pi-o ierting laterally by said slotted member and capable of positioning to preclude movement of said pin within said slot and lock said lever from movement on its fulcrum or removal therefrom.

3. In combination with a tubular supporting member, a lever member supported thereby and fulcrumed therein for universal swinging movement, said supporting member provided with a slot, a cooperating pin extending laterally into said slot, said pin and 'slot precluding axial rotation of the lever within said sup port, said pin movable within said slot on the movement; of said lever, and a lock con trolled member carried by the supporting member and capable of axial rotation relatively to the lever for. positioning its surface to preclude movement of said pin within said slot and thus lock said lever from movement on its fulcrum.

4. In combination with a tubular supporting member provided with .a spherical socket, a lever member provided with a spherical fulcrum portion removably seated within said spherical socket, said spherical socket provided at opposite sides with a vertical slot, a pair of pins extending lat.- crally from said spherical fulcrum portion and projecting one into each of said slots and capable of movement therein on the operation of the lever. said pins each provided with a flat surface, and a lock controlled means movably supported by said tubular supporting member and capable of rotation thereon axially of the lever to position a portion of its surface to engage said flat pin'faces to lock said lever from movement on its fulcrum.

5. In combination with a tubular supporting member provided with a spherical socket, a lever member provided with a spherical fulcrum portion removably seated within said spherical socket, said spherical socket provided at opposite sides with a vertical slot, a pair of pins extending laterally fronrsaid spherical fulcrum portion and projecting one into each of said slots and capable of movement-therein on the operation of the lever, said pins each provided with a fiat surface, a ring surrounding said lever and secured to said support, said ring capable of axial rotation to position the under-surface thereof into contact with said pins to prevent movement of the same within their cooperating lots to look the lever from movement, and a lock controlled bolt carried by said support and relatively to which said ring is capable of movement, said boltcapable of engaging, said ring to lock the same from movement relatively to said support and in a position to preclude movement of the lever.

6. In combination with a tubular supporting member provided with a spherical from said lever and circumferential groove,

theoperation of the lever, said pins each provided with a flat surface, a

ring surrounding the lever above the spherical portion thereof, said ring provided with a circumferential groove and formed on its ter with said pins to admit of movement of the lever on its fulcrum, a retaining: ring or plate secured to said supporting; member with a portion thereof seated within said whereby said ring is capable of axial movement relatively to the lever to remove said recesses from registcr with said pins, thereby locking the lever from movement. and a controlling lock carried by said retaining plate and cooperating with said ring for locking said axially rotatable ring from movement when moved to its latter position.

7 In combination with a tubular supporting member provided with a spherical socket, a lever member provided with a spherical fulcrum portion removably seated within said spherical socket, said spherical socket provided at opposite sides with a vertical slot, :1 pair of pins extending laterally from said spherical fulcrum portion and projecting one into each of said slots and capable of movement therein on the operation of the lever, said pins each provided with a Hat surface, a ring surrounding the lever above the spherical portion thereof and capable of axial movement relatively to the lever, said ring formed on its undersurface with recesses adapted to register with saidpins to permit movement of the lever on its fulcrum, a retaining ring or plate se cured to said casing for holding said axially rotatable ring in position thereon, and lock controlled means carried by said ring or plate for locking said axially rotatable ring from movement on the rotation of the same to position the recesses on the under surface thereof out of register with said pins.

S. In combination with a tubular supporting member provided with a spherical socket, a lever member provided with a. spherical fulcrum portion removablv seated within said spherical socket for universal swinging movement therein, said.spherical socket provided at opposite sides with a vertical slot, a pair of pins extending, laterally from said spherical fulcrum portion and projecting one into each of said slots, said pins each rovided with a fiat upper face, and a lock controlled means movably undersurface with recesses adapted to regissupported on sald tubular supporting member for axial rotation relatively to the lever andprovided on its surface with recesses adapted to register with said pins to permit'of universal movement of the lever within its socket, said lever lockin means capable of rotation axiall ofthe %ever to position a solid portion thereof to overlie the fiat faces of said pins to preclude movement of the pins within the slots and the operative movement of the lever within its socket.

9. In combination with a tubular supporting member provided with a spherical socket, a lever member provided with a spherical fulcrum portion removably seated. within said spherical socket, said socket provided at opposite sides with a vertical slot, a pair of pins extending laterally from said spherical fulcrum portion and projecting one into each of said slots and capable of movement therein on the operation of the lever, means mounted to rotate axially of the lever and supported by said supporting member and capable of movement to preclude movement of said pins within said slots and lock said lever from movement, a retaining member detachably secured to the supporting member for retaining the rotatable means in position on said support, said rotatable means when in a position to lock said lever from movement preventing the detachment of said retaining means from said support.

spherical fulcrum portion removably seated.

within said. spherical socket, said socket provided at opposite sides with a vertical slot, a pair of pins extending laterally from said spherical fulcrum portion and projecting one into each. of said slots and capable of movement therein on the operation of the lever, a ring surrmmding, said lever and mounted to rotate axially thereof to proelude movement of said pins within said slots and lock said lLWOl from movement, a retaining member positioned on said support for retaining the said ring in position thereon, means for detachably securing said retaining member to said supporting meme bar, and means carried by said ring and overlying said securing means when said ring is rotated to lever locking position for preventing the detaclnnent of said securing member from said support.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of a subscribing witness.

GEORGE G. JENSEN.

Fitness:

I), B. liiciiAnns. 

